Although he pilots several different aircraft in Top Gun: Maverick, Tom Cruise was denied clearance by the U.S. Navy to fly the F-18 jet.

Top Gun: Maverick hits theaters on May 24. Correction: This article was updated after publication to make clear that Cruise did not fly but insisted that he and others actually fly in Navy jets.

World Premiere of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Image Credit: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP Attendees look on as Tom Cruise pilots a helicopter onto the deck of the USS Midway in San Diego. World Premiere ...

The Top Gun: Maverick world premiere is being held tonight on the USS Midway, the iconic Navy aircraft carrier docked in San Diego. Given that fact, of course Tom Cruise took the opportunity to ...

SAN DIEGO, CA - APRIL 26: Actor Tom Cruise exits a helicopter on the deck of the USS Midway Museum as he arrives at the "Top Gun: Maverick" world premiere on May 4, 2022, in San Diego, CA.

Both Top Gun movies open with montages of jets taking off from an aircraft carrier. Both movies feature many more stellar aerial sequences throughout the movie. Only Top Gun: Maverick captures ...